Highway to Heaven TV Series Remembered


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    Maybe you remember this TV series that aired from 1984-1989, with Micheal Landon and Victor French. This was a very special show with tear jerking scripts that touched on the love God has for humanity. Even though I was only 5-10 years old during this time, I can remember watching episodes with my grandma on NBC when they aired.

   This series was the third and last of the successful TV series Micheal Landon was involved with. First he was in Bonanza from 1959-1973, then in Little House on the Prairie from 1974-1983, and then Highway to Heaven. Victor French was a co-host in Little House on The Prairie with him as well. Highway to Heaven ended up being just that for the two men, as after the series ended they both died soon after from cancer.

    In 1989 Victor French died of lung cancer at only 54 years old, only a month before the last episode aired of Highway to Heaven. Micheal Landon died a couple years later on July 1, 1991 of pancreatic cancer at the same age of 54. Both cancers were diagnosed less than 5 months before they died. What a tragedy these men died so young from cancer.

   Highway to Heaven was a great show, in which Micheal Landon was an angel from God, who went about with Victor on assignments from God helping various people in life's difficult circumstances. Every episode was filmed in California where both men ended up dying. Victor was born in California, while Micheal was born in Queens, New York.

   Just recently I had the idea of watching this show from YouTube, where nearly every episode is located for free. What a treasure I've found. I had the idea after my wife and I started watching Little House on The Prairie episodes about six months ago. The Christian values and even Christian talk at times, is so very refreshing when it comes to entertainment. Compared to entertainment in modern times, these shows really stand out as wholesome and Godly. Even though at times I can see where the New Age watered down gospel crept into some of the episodes, more so what I see is great men of God who showed people watching how to truly love your fellow human.

   There are so many wonderful episodes to speak of, the quality of each episodes is apparent with original script and directing from Micheal Landon himself. He was a truly talented man, who knew how to love and had values absent in today's mainstream culture. As I watch these episodes and listen to the grand theme music at the beginning and end of the show, I mourn for America because of the degradation of it's values. Now, there are shows which are a shame to speak of, a far cry from the spark of light in our culture Micheal Landon brought.

   Watching Highway to Heaven is a glimpse into the 80's, as the show was filmed from 1984-1989. Since I was born in 1979, I still remember the eighties some and am intrigued with the sights and sounds of this time. The 80's was a time of transition for America, where the Godless wicked liberals were starting to gain the majority and the decay of our society was starting to show profound signs. The criticism of culture and government from Micheal Landon's character Johnathon Smith, and Victor French's character Mark Gordon, were poignant and hard hitting with truth. It was their generation which witnessed the drastic changes to society which took place from the 50's-to the 90's and even more so today in 2014. With the criticisms they had back then in the 80's, I wonder what they would think of our country now. I already know they would mourn, like every Christian is now seeing the wickedness prevail in every aspect of our society and culture.

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   54 years old isn't old, and these two men died way too soon, and way to suddenly. Highway to Heaven didn't end because of their deaths, but because NBC dropped the show after poor ratings from the fourth season. The fifth season was the last, as America had already lost it's appetite for goodness and love. That this wonderful and God-inspired television series ended and these two loving and Godly men died so young, is almost emblematic of the era of goodness and Godliness dying in America. As the wickedness grew to another level when Bush Sr. stepped into office in 1988, and introduced us formally to the Satanic New World Order shortly after.

   Of course there are a remnant of Christians who are still in America, living to fulfill God's will everyday of our lives. Worshiping Jesus Christ, reading and believing the Holy Bible, and mourning as we see the destruction of everything good around us. As our culture and society are being deceived and falling away from truth and love, we the remnant of believers, grow closer to Lord Jesus Christ and remove ourselves from this wicked culture and society. Christianity is no longer welcome in America, and I think the final rejection of shows like Highway to Heaven are a poignant telling sign of when this trend started taking a profound affect on our country.


   As I watch these episodes, I'm encouraged and blessed by the absolute love these men had for humanity. I can see some doctrinal error in their script, but more so I see an unabashed goodness prevailing to break through the hate and fear which can so easily beset us in this manifold wicked modern time. God bless this show and these men, and I can't wait to talk with them in Heaven, once I'm on that highway to heaven when I die.  


This is the first episode in 1984. Click to watch on YouTube and subscribe to the channel to watch all the full episodes from 84 to 89!





Comments

  1. Thank you for sharing! I forgot about this wonderful series I always needed a box of Kleenex while watching and still do!!!!

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  2. I know, thanks for the comment, Max, this is a great show and the music sticks in my mind so uplifting and loving. I remember grandma Mickey and me watching this and she would give me Kudos candy bars. How great it is to have that memory. We can watch all the episodes on YouTube! Praise God, there is an alternative to the modern mainstream media. God bless.

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  3. Perhaps its your age that betrays a touch of naivety on your part..... But trust me, just because YOU spent your youth in the '80s that doesn't mean that it was either free of or was a fulcrum point for the ushering in a new era of wickedness. It has been there for a long time .... you simply started making sense of things as you naturally matured and started to see the world around you more for what it was. Society has degraded worse than it is now, this is nothing, during times prior to direct revelation. Scripture study should teach you this. The 'satanic nwo' was not ushered in by Bush Snr. It has been there since Lucifer was cast down.

    Besides that: agree totally about some elements of TV at least being of a more innocent age when shows like these were produced. We must never forget, no matter what 'heavenly' guise TV will take - it is ultimately a lure you and hook youbtool for the masses to distract AWAY from spirituality.

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  4. Loved "Little House" and thought I loved this show. Memories are fond of watching this show as a kid however after viewing several I've come to realize this is a very country ruining liberal show.

    All the talking points in this show are clear. I've destroyed my entire collection.

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    1. I've researched his death and he was stubborn to come to Jesus as he was Jewish come to find out. Micheals son is a born again Christian who was actually trying to convince his dad to come to Jesus before he died, let's hope he did.

      I understand about the liberal talking points and the hidden agenda those without Jesus have through media. This show didn't threaten this agenda, but it was edgy enough to make people think about God and even Jesus, as they were portraying Christians. We just don't even see the main characters in TV anymore being remotely Christian without being some extreme wacko. So, in a way I was wrong to assume these were great men of God, yet in a way I'm absolutely correct in loving the sincerity that Landon and Victor put into their shows, and we Christains know God is Love and God is Goodness, so if anyone is doing good and loving (which they did in the show) then they were with God, yet did they give all the glory to God? That is a question only God can answer as we don't know their last hours, minutes, or even seconds now do we?
      As for his son becoming a born-again Christian, this is a good fruit.

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    2. I came across this blog yesterday, and I didn't say anything. To say that I was stunned by all the arrogance and self-righteousness was putting it mildly. As you look down your noses at Non-Christians and liberals, while patting yourselves on the back for your "Christian" perfection, love and goodness (GAG!), I'd like to add my thoughts. I'm not seeing any Christian love from you people at all.

      Jesus Christ was himself a JEW! Yes, that's right a "Jew"! The core DNA of Christianity is Judaism from which it sprang! I'm sure you'll go on as you've been. It makes you feel too good to be putting down others! Jesus would probably be ashamed of you! If you are supposed to represent prime examples of what Christians are like, I think I'll pass on your phony Christianity!

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    3. God bless you and hold you Francis. He loves all of us flawed humans, including me.

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  5. I am a Christian and I just found out about "highway to heaven". I love it! I agreed with everything you wrote! But I think God is not finished with America yet. I pray that God would raise up people like Michael Landon every time I watch the show! I just finished season 3. I will be very sad when I finish season 5.��

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    1. Glad to hear it, it's good entertainment, yet I wouldn't likely watch over again, unless I forgot it nearly years later. Thanks for your favorable comment and God bless in Jesus.

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  6. Random side-note....Michael Landon is Jewish

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    1. S-Shut your mouth, you godless wicked liberal.

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  7. Hi Robbie,

    Iam going through exactly what you describe in your article. I truely believe this kind of show are life inspiring and a must alternative for todays crap found on tv.

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  8. Love the show, caution on biblical truth regarding angels, though.

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    1. Unsure why you caution on biblical Angels. That is what Johnathon's role was. Although he is in training in the beginning. He has assumed the acting role as a lesser Angel only sent to Earth to help man find his way. It is a FEEL GOOD series even if a tear-jerker on most occasions. Accept it for what it is rather than see more than what is given.

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  9. Despite all the debate about the liberal agenda, and Christian theme, the real value the show possesses is the showing people how to treat others. This seems lost in our society.

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  10. it's really sad to see conservative individuals portray themselves as the only group that is christian in America. a few Facts Michael Landon was a Jewish Man. Jesus Himself was Jewish man with olive skin tone an dark hair most likely given the region of the world he lived in. The Bible Clearly tells People "For God So Loved the world" meaning GOD loves everyone. I am a "liberal" Christian. all religions have their core base rooted in Judaism. Muslim and Christianity both spring from Judaism this is why Michael Landon attempted both in highway to heaven and little house on the prairie to address religious differences and the commonalities between religions . Jesus told many parables in the 3 years he was teaching people . he did so to let people know he had come to save us all regardless of religion . we are saved by faith . our treatment of others shows the core belief in Jesus. putting people down and calling them evil because they are liberal is not likely to bring many people to Jesus. I have changed my granddaughter from a non believer in Jesus to a believer not by condemnation but by sharing and explaining why I believe in GOD and why I have faith in Jesus as my lord and savior.Anonymous you are right the value in shows like highway to heaven,little house on the prairie,Touched by an angel is that they show how you should treat others. a lost value in 2017.

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  11. Hi Robbie,
    Thanks for publishing this. I really enjoyed reading it. I’m a fan of the series and have just started watching it.
    One thing that surprises me is the number of actors and actresses who played in it and died at the age of 54.
    Later I searched more and saw even more: the role they played there and some real events later in their life.
    It kinda freaked me out.
    I’m still searching for people who might have noticed the unusual stuff in there.

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  12. I have to ask as others before me have WHY or what does it matter who or what Michael Langdon believed as his saviour? The mere fact that he chose to produce, write and act in this production just indicates his belief and how he felt about it. I am aware he is quoted as saying that he would produce a T.V. program dedicated to God as his way of saying thank you for saving his daughter after a car accident in which she was injured. Even if this is not true, I DON'T know, it is a wonderful emotional program that I take strong pleasure from and helps me in a small way to keep my belief in God strong. If youth of today may turn around and become wholesome again instead of being SO selfish it may actually change the arrogance of their parents. That if there were more clean shows like this instead of a lot of what is now being broadcast it may help clean up the next generation.

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  13. Please pray the right people are given a hard time that I need and the phone call tomorrow I do not want to happen does not happen at all.

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  14. I love this show. It is so brilliant and God-inspired, in my opinion. It's hard to believe that Michael Landon did not go to church. I will always love him for the legacy that he left behind.

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